System and method of user equipment state configurations

ABSTRACT

Methods and devices that support multiple user equipment (UE) state configurations in a wireless network are provided. A state configuration is selected for a UE from among a plurality of candidate state configurations. Each candidate state configuration is associated with a respective set of one or more predefined operating states from among a plurality of predefined operating states. Information regarding the selected state configuration is then transmitted to the UE.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/436,387 entitled “System and Method of User Equipment StateConfigurations” filed Feb. 17, 2017, and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/296,911 entitled “System andMethod of User Equipment State Configurations” filed Feb. 18, 2016, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communication generally, and,in particular embodiments, to a system and method for user equipmentstate configurations.

BACKGROUND

User Equipment (UE) devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) are becomingmore connected to Evolved NodeBs (eNB)s with not only different servicesrunning in the foreground (referred to as foreground services) but alsowith different services running in the background (referred to asbackground services). UEs may also be commonly referred to as terminals,subscribers, users, mobile stations, mobiles, and the like. eNBs mayalso be commonly referred to as NodeBs, base stations, controllers,communications controllers, access points, and the like.

Foreground services (and associated message traffic-“foregroundtraffic”) include video streaming, web browsing, file transfer, games,and the like. Background services (and associated messagetraffic-“background traffic”) include keep alive messages generated by amobile operating system or instant messaging, reports generated bysensors and/or smart meters, and the like.

Providing always on connectivity (maintaining an existing connection toenable low latency communications rather than permitting an existingconnection to end and re-establishing another connection when needed)while conserving energy (to extend battery life, for example) is anongoing challenge.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method forsupporting multiple user equipment (UE) state configurations in awireless network. The method according to the first aspect comprises:selecting, by a network device for a UE, a state configuration fromamong a plurality of candidate state configurations, each candidatestate configuration being associated with a respective one or morepredefined operating states; and transmitting, by the network device,information to the UE regarding the selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure selecting a state configuration comprises selecting astate configuration based at least in part on at least one of: a UE typeassociated with the UE; and one or more services supported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises receiving, by thenetwork device, as part of a UE air interface capability exchangeprocedure, information regarding at least one of: the UE type associatedwith the UE; and the one or more services supported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises: receiving, by thenetwork device, as part of a UE supported service change procedure,information regarding a change to the one or more services supported bythe UE; responsive to receiving the information regarding the change tothe one or more services supported by the UE, selecting, by the networkdevice, a replacement state configuration from among the plurality ofcandidate state configurations based at least in part on the informationregarding the change to the one or more services supported by the UE;and transmitting, by the network device, information to the UE regardingthe selected replacement state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure:

selecting a state configuration from among a plurality of candidatestate configurations comprises:

selecting a first state configuration based at least in part on a firstservice supported by the UE; and

selecting a second state configuration based at least in part on asecond service supported by the UE; and

transmitting, to the UE, information regarding the selected stateconfiguration comprises transmitting, to the UE, information regardingthe selected first and second state configurations.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises:

providing the first service in a first network slice in accordance withthe first state configuration; and

providing the second service in a second network slice in accordancewith the second state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure:

selecting a state configuration from among the plurality of candidatestate configurations comprises selecting a state configuration formultiple network slices supported by the UE, each of the multiplenetwork slices being associated with a respective state configurationamong the plurality of candidate state configurations; and

the method further comprising:

providing a first service to the UE in a first network slice of themultiple network slices supported by the UE in accordance with theselected state configuration; and

providing a second service to the UE in a second network slice of themultiple network slices supported by the UE in accordance with theselected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the one or more predefined operating statescomprises at least two of the following operating states: an ACTIVEstate, an ECO state; an IDLE state; an enhanced IDLE state; and anenhanced ECO state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure each candidate state configuration further indicatesone or more valid state transition paths between the associatedpredefined operating states.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure the plurality of candidate state configurationscomprises at least two of the following candidate state configurations:

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state and an ECO state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ECO state and an IDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state, an ECO state, and anIDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state and an IDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an enhanced CONNECTED state and an IDLEstate; and

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an enhanced IDLE state and an ACTIVEstate.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure the enhanced CONNECTED state includes therein ACTIVEand ECO sub-states with state transition paths therebetween within theenhanced CONNECTED state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure the enhanced IDLE state includes therein IDLE and ECOsub-states with transition paths therebetween within the enhanced IDLEstate.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises communicating with theUE in accordance with the selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration is associated withat least an energy-conserving operating state, the method furthercomprising:

maintaining UE context information for the UE in the energy-conservingoperating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises maintaining lightconnection management with the UE on at least one of uplink and downlinkwhen the UE is operating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises receiving a grant-freeuplink transmission from the UE when the UE is operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises the network deviceperforming location tracking of the UE when the UE is operating in thefirst energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises the selected stateconfiguration further comprises an active operating state, and themethod further comprises:

performing active connection management with the UE on uplink anddownlink when the UE is operating in the active operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced CONNECTEDoperating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced IDLEoperating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a network devicecomprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor,the computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming comprising instructions to:

-   -   select, for a user equipment (UE), a state configuration from        among a plurality of candidate state configurations, each        candidate state configuration being associated with a respective        one or more predefined operating states; and    -   transmit, via the wireless interface, information to the UE        regarding the selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the instructions to select a state configurationcomprise instructions to select a state configuration based at least inpart on at least one of: a UE type associated with the UE; and one ormore services supported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions toreceive, via the wireless interface, as part of a UE air interfacecapability exchange procedure, information regarding at least one of:the UE type associated with the UE; and the one or more servicessupported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions to:

receive, via the wireless interface, as part of a UE supported servicechange procedure, information regarding a change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE;

responsive to receiving the information regarding the change to the oneor more services supported by the UE, select a replacement stateconfiguration from among the plurality of candidate state configurationsbased at least in part on the information regarding the change to theone or more services supported by the UE; and

transmit, via the wireless interface, information to the UE regardingthe selected replacement state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the instructions to select a state configuration from among a pluralityof candidate state configurations comprise instructions to:

select a first state configuration based at least in part on a firstservice supported by the UE; and

select a second state configuration based at least in part on a secondservice supported by the UE; and

the instructions to transmit, via the wireless interface, information tothe UE regarding the selected state configuration comprise instructionsto transmit, via the wireless interface, information to the UE regardingthe selected first and second state configurations.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions to:

provide the first service in a first network slice in accordance withthe first state configuration; and

provide the second service in a second network slice in accordance withthe second state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure:

-   -   the instructions to select a state configuration from among the        plurality of candidate state configurations comprise        instructions to select a state configuration for multiple        network slices supported by the UE, each of the multiple network        slices being associated with a respective state configuration        among the plurality of candidate state configurations; and

the programming further comprises instructions to:

-   -   provide services to the UE in a first network slice of the        multiple network slices supported by the UE in accordance with        the selected state configuration; and    -   provide services to the UE in a second network slice of the        multiple network slices supported by the UE in accordance with        the selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the one or more predefined operating states comprisesat least two of the following operating states: an ACTIVE state, an ECOstate; an IDLE state; an enhanced IDLE state; and an enhanced ECO state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure each candidate state configuration further indicatesone or more valid state transition paths between the associatedpredefined operating states.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the plurality of candidate state configurationscomprises at least two of the following candidate state configurations:

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state and an ECO state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ECO state and an IDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state, an ECO state, and anIDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an ACTIVE state and an IDLE state;

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an enhanced CONNECTED state and an IDLEstate; and

a candidate state configuration associated with a set of predefinedoperating states that includes an enhanced IDLE state and an ACTIVEstate.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the enhanced CONNECTED state includes therein ACTIVEand ECO sub-states with state transition paths therebetween within theenhanced CONNECTED state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the enhanced IDLE state includes therein IDLE and ECOsub-states with transition paths therebetween within the enhanced IDLEstate.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions tocommunicate with the UE in accordance with the selected stateconfiguration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration is associated withat least an energy-conserving operating state, the programming furthercomprises instructions to:

maintain UE context information for the UE in the energy-conservingoperating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure, the programming further comprises instructions tomaintain light connection management with the UE on at least one ofuplink and downlink when the UE is operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure, the programming further comprises instructions tomonitor for grant-free uplink transmission from the UE when the UE isoperating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions toperform a location tracking procedure for the UE when the UE isoperating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the selected state configuration further comprises an active operatingstate; and

the programming further comprises instructions to perform activeconnection management with the UE on uplink and downlink when the UE isoperating in the active operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced CONNECTEDoperating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the second aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced IDLEoperating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a method forsupporting multiple UE state configurations in a wireless network, themethod comprising:

receiving, by a user equipment (UE), from the wireless network,information regarding a state configuration selected for the UE, theselected state configuration having been selected from among a pluralityof candidate state configurations, each candidate state configurationbeing associated with a respective one or more predefined operatingstates; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises:

transmitting, by the UE, as part of a UE air interface capabilityexchange procedure, information regarding at least one of: a UE typeassociated with the UE; and one or more services supported by the UE,

wherein the state configuration selected for the UE is selected fromamong the plurality of candidate state configurations based at least inpart on at least one of: the information regarding the UE typeassociated with the UE; and the information regarding the one or moreservices supported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure, the method further comprises:

transmitting, by the UE, as part of a UE supported service changeprocedure, information regarding a change to the one or more servicessupported by the UE;

receiving, by the UE, from the wireless network, information regarding areplacement state configuration selected for the UE from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe information regarding the change to the one or more servicessupported by the UE; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected replacement state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the UE supports multiple services, including at least a first serviceand a second service;

receiving, by the UE, from the wireless network, information regarding astate configuration selected for the UE comprises:

receiving, by the UE, information regarding a first state configurationselected from among the plurality of candidate state configurationsbased at least in part on the first service supported by the UE; and

receiving, by the UE, information regarding a second state configurationselected from among the plurality of candidate state configurationsbased at least in part on the second service supported by the UE; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected state configuration comprises:

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in respect of thefirst service in accordance with the first selected state configuration;and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in respect of thesecond service in accordance with the second selected stateconfiguration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure:

communicating with the wireless network in respect of the first servicein accordance with the first selected state configuration comprisescommunicating with a first network slice of the wireless network inaccordance with the first selected state configuration; and

communicating with the wireless network in respect of the second servicein accordance with the second selected state configuration comprisescommunicating with a second network slice of the wireless network inaccordance with the second selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration is associated withat least an energy-conserving operating state in which UE context ismaintained by the UE with the wireless network.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure each candidate state configuration further indicatesone or more valid state transition paths between the associatedpredefined operating states.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure communicating with the wireless network in accordancewith the selected state configuration comprises maintaining lightconnection management with the RAN on at least one of uplink anddownlink when operating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure maintaining light connection management with the RANon at least one of uplink and downlink comprises maintaining lightconnection management on uplink and downlink when operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure communicating with the wireless network in accordancewith the selected state configuration comprises configuring the UE forgrant-free uplink transmission in the first energy-conserving operatingstate.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure communicating with the wireless network in accordancewith the selected state configuration comprises configuring the UE witha tracking channel in the first energy-conserving operating state tofacilitate periodic location tracking of the UE.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration further comprises anactive operating state in which the UE performs active connectionmanagement with the RAN on uplink and downlink.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration includes a statetransition path from the second energy-conserving operating state to theactive operating state, but does not include a state transition pathfrom the second energy-conserving operating state to the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure transitioning between the first-energy conservingoperating state and the active operating state is contention-free.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced CONNECTEDoperating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure transitions between the sub-states of the enhancedCONNECTED operating state are done without explicit state transitionsignalling to the wireless network.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced IDLEoperating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure transitions between the sub-states of the enhancedIDLE operating state are done without explicit state transitionsignalling to the wireless network.

In some embodiments of the method according to the third aspect of thepresent disclosure, in the enhanced IDLE operating state, the UE isconfigured to operate in one of the sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state based on services supported by the UE and/or a UE typeassociated with the UE.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a user equipment (UE)comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor,the computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming comprising instructions to:

-   -   receive, via the wireless interface, from a wireless network,        information regarding a state configuration selected for the UE,        the selected state configuration having been selected from among        a plurality of candidate state configurations, each candidate        state configuration being associated with a respective one or        more predefined operating states; and    -   communicate with the wireless network in accordance with the        selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions to:

transmit, via the wireless interface, as part of a UE air interfacecapability exchange procedure, information regarding at least one of: aUE type associated with the UE; and one or more services supported bythe UE,

wherein the state configuration selected for the UE is selected fromamong the plurality of candidate state configurations based at least inpart on at least one of: the information regarding the UE typeassociated with the UE; and the information regarding the one or moreservices supported by the UE.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the programming further comprises instructions to:

transmit, via the wireless interface, as part of a UE supported servicechange procedure, information regarding a change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE;

receive, via the wireless interface, from the wireless network,information regarding a replacement state configuration selected for theUE from among the plurality of candidate state configurations based atleast in part on the information regarding the change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE; and

communicate, via the wireless interface, with the wireless network inaccordance with the selected replacement state configuration.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the UE supports multiple services, including at least a first serviceand a second service;

the instructions to receive, from the wireless network, informationregarding a state configuration selected for the UE compriseinstructions to:

receive information regarding a first state configuration selected fromamong the plurality of candidate state configurations based at least inpart on the first service supported by the UE; and

receive information regarding a second state configuration selected fromamong the plurality of candidate state configurations based at least inpart on the second service supported by the UE; and

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in accordancewith the selected state configuration comprise instructions to:

communicate with the wireless network in respect of the first service inaccordance with the first selected state configuration; and

communicate with the wireless network in respect of the second servicein accordance with the second selected state configuration.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in respect ofthe first service in accordance with the first selected stateconfiguration comprise instructions to communicate with a first networkslice of the wireless network in accordance with the first selectedstate configuration; and

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in respect ofthe second service in accordance with the second selected stateconfiguration comprise instructions to communicate with a second networkslice of the wireless network in accordance with the second selectedstate configuration.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the selected state configuration is associated withat least an energy-conserving operating state in which UE context ismaintained by the UE with the wireless network.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure each candidate state configuration further indicatesone or more valid state transition paths between the associatedpredefined operating states.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the instructions to communicate with the wirelessnetwork in accordance with the selected state configuration compriseinstructions to maintain light connection management with the wirelessnetwork on at least one of uplink and downlink when operating in thefirst energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the UE is configured for grant-free uplinktransmission in the first energy-conserving operating state.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure the operating states of the state machine furthercomprise:

an active operating state in which the UE performs active connectionmanagement with the RAN on uplink and downlink.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure transitioning between the first-energy conservingoperating state and the active operating state is contention-free.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure transitions between the sub-states of the enhancedCONNECTED operating state are done without explicit state transitionsignalling to the RAN.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure transitions between the sub-states of the enhancedIDLE operating state are done without explicit state transitionsignalling to the RAN.

In some embodiments of the UE according to the fourth aspect of thepresent disclosure, in the enhanced IDLE operating state, the UE isconfigured to operate in one of the sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state based on services supported by the UE and/or a UE typeassociated with the UE.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communications system according to exampleembodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates examples of UE operational states according toexample embodiments described herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of signalling overhead to support two statesvs. three states according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4A illustrates examples of state configurations according toexample embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4B illustrates further details of an enhanced IDLE state that isincluded in one of the example state configurations shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C illustrates further details of an enhanced CONNECTED state thatis included in one of the example state configurations shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4D illustrates further details of an enhanced IDLE state that isincluded in one of the example state configurations shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A illustrates examples of mappings between network slices andstate configurations according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of a UE configured with multiple stateconfigurations according to example embodiments described herein;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate example message exchange diagrams accordingto example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations in a networkdevice according to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations in a UEaccording to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations in a UEaccording to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example network deviceaccording to example embodiments described herein;

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a UE according to exampleembodiments described herein;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example UE according to example embodimentsdescribed herein; and

FIG. 13 illustrates an example network device according to exampleembodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The operating of the current example embodiments and the structurethereof are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated,however, that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventiveconcepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts.The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specificstructures of the disclosure and ways to operate the disclosure, and donot limit the scope of the disclosure.

In designing mobile networks, an architecture has arisen in which thenetwork can be divided into a Core Network (CN) and a Radio AccessNetwork (RAN). The RAN provides wireless communication channels to UserEquipment (UE), while the CN typically comprises nodes and functionsmaking use of fixed links. In the RAN, fronthaul and backhaulconnections often rely on wired connections, although some wirelessconnections (typically between fixed points) are present. The RAN hasdifferent requirements and issues to address than the CN.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communications system 100 that includes aCore Network (CN) 102 and a Radio Access Network (RAN) 104.

The CN 102 may provide any of various services, such as callcontrol/switching and gateways to other networks. The CN 102 includesnetwork components such as routers, switches, and servers.

An interface between the CN 102 and RAN 125 is provided to allow trafficfrom CN 102 to be directed towards mobile nodes, generally referred toas UEs, through Access Points (APs). In Third Generation and FourthGeneration (3G/4G) network architecture, a base station, basetransceiver station, NodeB, and evolved NodeB (eNB) have been the termsused to refer to the wireless interface to the network. In thefollowing, a generic Access Point is used to denote the wireless edgenode of the network. An Access Point will be understood to be any of aTransmission Point (TP), a Receive Point (RP) and a Transmit/ReceivePoint (TRP). It will be understood that the term AP can be understood toinclude the above mentioned nodes, as well as their successor nodes, butis not necessarily restricted to them.

APs in RAN 104 may serve a plurality of UEs. For example, as shown inFIG. 1, RAN 104 includes an eNB 105 serving a plurality of UEs,including UE 110, UE 112, UE 114, UE 116, and UE 118. While it isunderstood that communications systems may employ multiple APs capableof communicating with a number of UEs, only one AP (eNB 105), and anumber of UEs (UEs 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118) are illustrated forsimplicity.

As noted above, in the present description access point (AP) is used todenote the wireless edge node of the network. Thus, the AP 105 providesthe radio edge of RAN 104, which may for example be a Fifth Generation(5G) or New Radio (NR) wireless communication network. The UEs 110, 112,114, 116 and 118 may receive communications from, and transmitcommunications to, the AP 105. Communications from the AP 105 to the UEs110, 112, 114, 116 and 118 may be referred to as downlink (DL)communications, and communications from the UEs 110, 112, 114, 116 and118 to the AP 105 may be referred to as uplink (UL) communications.

As discussed previously, as UEs become more advanced, they are capableof running a wider range of applications. The applications may beclassified as either session based applications or non-session basedapplications. Session based applications are generally applications thatutilize a series of data exchanges and have intolerance to largelatencies, generate a lot of message traffic, have large data bandwidthrequirements, and the like. For example, the session based applicationsmay include video streaming, web browsing, file transfer, games, and thelike. Non-session based applications are typically applications thatutilize short data exchanges and some can tolerate large latencies,generate a small amount of message traffic, have small data bandwidthrequirements, and the like. For example, the non-session basedapplications may include keep alive messages generated by a mobileoperating system or instant messaging, reports generated by sensorsand/or smart meters, and the like. However, it is understood that somenon-session based applications may not be able to tolerate largelatencies, such as some security sensor applications, health sensorapplications, and the like.

As an illustrative example, UE 110 is running a multi-media streamingapplication, a web browser, as well as an instant messaging application,while UE 112 is running a multi-user video game. Similarly, UE 114 isrunning a web browser while performing a large file transfer, UE 116 isrunning an instant messaging application that is not active and istransmitting keep alive messages to maintain connectivity, while UE 118is a sensor that reports on occasion.

In order to control UE usage of radio resources and power consumption,connection states are defined in many wireless communication standards(e.g. Long Term Evolution (LTE) Radio Resource Control (RRC) states,Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) RRC states, EvolutionData Optimized (EVDO) connection states).

These states define the characteristics of a UE in terms of: resourceusage (e.g. dedicated resources, shared resources), control channelusage and control channel monitoring pattern, and thus can affect one ormore of the following metrics: terminal power consumption; networkresources (e.g. physical resources, terminal ID allocation, and thelike); data transmission latency; and control plane signaling overhead.

Many existing wireless communication standards include only two validoperational states. For example, the LTE/UMTS RRC states include anACTIVE state and an IDLE state.

As an illustrative example, if a state machine includes two states:ACTIVE and IDLE with the IDLE state not allowing the UE to transmit,then a UE executing non-session based applications transitions to theACTIVE state prior to transmitting or receiving transmissions (which,due to the nature of non-session based applications, occursinfrequently). The state transition generally requires the exchange ofmultiple messages between the UE and its AP, which incurs significantcommunications overhead and communications latency, especially whenconsidering that the UE may be transmitting or receiving messages thatare only a few bytes long (or less).

A third operational state, namely an ECO state, is proposed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/150,539 filed on Jan. 8, 2014 entitled“System and Method for Always on Connections in Wireless CommunicationsSystem”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TheECO state may also be called Inactive state.

In the ECO state proposed in some embodiments of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/150,539, grant-free transmission is supported to reducesignalling overhead and energy consumption of transmission of smallpackets (e.g., background traffic).

In contrast to the conventional IDLE state defined in LTE/UMTS, an ECOstate, such as the one proposed in some embodiments of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/150,539, allows UEs executing non-session basedapplications to communicate using background messages without having tochange states from a first state that permits substantial energyconsumption savings to a second state (e.g., the ACTIVE state) thatresults in greater energy consumption but generally has no restrictionson how the UE communicates.

In order to facilitate data transmission in ECO state, in someembodiments, UE context needs to be maintained with the Radio AccessNetwork (RAN). For example, when a UE is operating in an ECO state, theUE and the RAN may maintain UE context information for the UE. The UEcontext, for example, may include a connection ID that identifies the UE(e.g. MAC ID, RNTI (radio network temporary identifier)), RRC connectioninformation (e.g. configuration of radio bearers, logical channels,security), uplink reference signal configurations (e.g. for UL basedmeasurement), MAC configurations (e.g. discontinuous reception (DRX)configurations), and physical channel configurations (e.g.configurations such as resources, modulation coding scheme (MCS) levelsfor grant-free data transmission), or subsets and variations thereof.

In some embodiments, the network has better knowledge of the UE locationwhen the UE is in ECO state. For example, in ECO state, the UE locationcan be tracked within a smaller geographical area (e.g. within one NRcell, or several TRPs or beams within one NR cell) than the UE in IDLEstate (e.g. a tracking area that consists of many NR cells).

FIG. 2 illustrates examples of operational characteristics that may beassociated with an ACTIVE state, an ECO state, and an IDLE stateaccording to example embodiments described herein. The example ACTIVEstate illustrated in FIG. 3 features scheduled and grant-free datatransmission for session-based traffic, active connection management,and the RAN maintains UE context information for the UE, such as adedicated connection ID (DCID). The example ECO state illustrated inFIG. 3 features grant-free data transmission for background traffic,light connection management, and the RAN maintains UE contextinformation for the UE, such as a DCID. Unlink the example ACTIVE andECO states illustrated in FIG. 3, in the IDLE state illustrated in FIG.3 the RAN does not maintain UE context information for the UE. In theexample IDLE state illustrated in FIG. 3, a UE monitors downlinkmeasurements and monitors a paging channel for paging messages, but doesnot transmit uplink data. The ECO and IDLE states are consideredenergy-conserving operating states relative to the ACTIVE state. Itshould be clear that these are merely examples of operationalcharacteristics that may be associated with these operational states andone or more of the operational states may have different operationalcharacteristics in other embodiments. In general, the operational statesdiffer from one another in terms of network connectedness, which mayaffect terminal power consumption, network resources, data transmissionlatency, and/or control plane signaling overhead, as discussed above.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, supporting state transitions among threepotential operational states (e.g., between ACTIVE, ECO and IDLE states)may incur additional signalling overhead relative to only supportingstate transitions among two potential operational states. FIG. 3illustrates three examples of signalling overhead to support transitionsbetween only two states vs. between three states, where ACTIVE, ECO andIDLE states are referenced using the letters A, E and I, respectively.Again, it should be noted that the examples of signalling shown in FIG.3 are provided as illustrative examples only, and different signallingmay be used in other implementations.

In the example with ACTIVE (A) and IDLE (I) states in FIG. 3, thesignalling to transition from IDLE to ACTIVE includes the random accessprocedure (RACH procedure) and RRC connection setup procedure. This maybe preceded by paging from the network.

In the example with ACTIVE (A) and ECO (E) states in FIG. 3, thesignalling to transition from ECO to ACTIVE includes a contention-freestate transition. For example, the UE may send a UE-dedicated preambleto the network without contention. Since UE context is maintained withthe RAN in the ECO state in this example embodiment, there is no need toperform RRC connection setup procedure. The state transition from ECO toACTIVE may be a result of the network sending paging and/or downlinkdata notification to the UE(s), for example.

In the example with ECO (E) and IDLE (I) states in FIG. 3, thesignalling to transition from IDLE to ECO may include a RACH procedureand RRC connection setup procedure since UE context may not bemaintained with the RAN in the IDLE state. This transition from IDLE toECO may be preceded by the RAN sending a paging message to the UE, forexample.

In all three of the above examples of FIG. 3, the transition from A toI, A to E or E to I may be the result of an inactivity timer expiry orin response to an explicit indication by the network to the UE, forexample.

In the example with ACTIVE, ECO and IDLE states in FIG. 3, thesignalling for state transition from IDLE to ECO or IDLE to Active mayinclude a RACH procedure and a RRC connection setup procedure. Moreover,in some embodiments, an additional indication may be provided toindicate the next state a UE is transitioning to because there are morethan two states. Similarly, the state transition from Active to ECO orActive to IDLE may also include additional signalling to indicate thenext state a UE is transitioning to. In general, such additionalsignalling may be required if a UE transitions among more than twopossible operating states.

While it may be advantageous for some UEs (e.g., smartphones capable ofsupporting a wide range of services) to support a larger number ofoperational states, some UEs (e.g., embedded sensor devices configuredfor machine type communication (MTC)) may not need to support statetransitions among all the potential operational states.

Accordingly, for those UEs that may only need to support statetransitions among a subset of all of the potential operational states,it may be desirable to configure those devices to avoid incurring theadditional signalling overhead that may be associated with supportingtransitions between all of the potential operational states.

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to supporting multiple UE stateconfigurations in a wireless network so that the supported operationalstates of a UE are configurable. For example, in one embodiment thenetwork selects a state configuration for each UE from among a pool ofcandidate state configurations with each candidate state configurationbeing associated with a respective set of one or more predefinedoperating states. For example, one candidate state configuration mayinclude all potential operational states, while a second candidate stateconfiguration may only include some subset of all potential operationalstates.

FIG. 4A illustrates six examples of state configurations according toexample embodiments described herein. The illustrated examples include:

-   -   a first state configuration (Config 1) that includes an ACTIVE        state and an ECO state;    -   a second state configuration (Config 2) that includes an ECO        state and an IDLE state;    -   a third state configuration (Config 3) that includes an ACTIVE        state and an enhanced IDLE state, where the enhanced IDLE state        includes therein IDLE and ECO sub-states with transition paths        therebetween within the enhanced IDLE state;    -   a fourth state configuration (Config 4) that includes an ACTIVE        state and an IDLE state;    -   a fifth state configuration (Config 5) that includes an IDLE        state and an enhanced CONNECTED state, where the enhanced        CONNECTED state includes therein ACTIVE and ECO sub-states with        transition paths therebetween within the enhanced CONNECTED        state; and    -   a sixth state configuration (Config 6) that includes an ACTIVE        state, an ECO state, and an IDLE state.

In an enhanced IDLE state shown in FIG. 4B, a UE can transition betweenan IDLE sub-state and an ECO sub-state. However, in some cases a UE cantransition from the ECO sub-state to the IDLE sub-state, but musttransition to the ACTIVE state (not shown in FIG. 4B) when seeking tore-establish a connection to the network, i.e, the direct transitionfrom the IDLE sub-state to the ECO sub-state is not permitted in somecases. It should also be noted that the ECO and IDLE sub-states may notneed to be explicitly defined in the enhanced IDLE state. They maybeimplicitly specified by virtue of whether the associated procedures aresupported and/or enabled as explained in the following. In someembodiments, the ECO sub-state is the same as the ECO state describedearlier. For example, in some embodiments, while operating in the ECOsub-state the UE may maintain context information with the RAN and maybe configured for grant-free uplink transmission. However, in order tofurther conserve battery power, a UE may go into deep sleep which is theIDLE sub-state. In another embodiment, the UE may not go into the IDLEsub-state.

In an ECO state/sub-state, the UE may be configured with a trackingchannel such as the one proposed in U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/141,483 filed Apr. 1, 2015 entitled “System and Method for aTracking Channel” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/009,626 filedJan. 28, 2016 entitled “System and Method for a Tracking Channel”, whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. The trackingchannel can be used by the network to track a UE location periodicallyand also to maintain a UE's uplink timing alignment. A UE canperiodically monitor a simplified paging and downlink data notificationmessage such as the one proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/609,707 filed Jan. 30, 2015 entitled “Apparatus and Method for aWireless Device to Receive Data in an ECO State”, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. Such a message may be unicastto a UE. Maintaining a light connection management on the uplink anddownlink may facilitate small packet data exchange with reduced latencywhile a UE is in an ECO state/sub-state. For example, the lightconnection management may include long-term adaptation of channel/linkquality, predefined/slow selection of MCS, and infrequent UE feedbackand UL reference signals transmission, or subsets and variationsthereof.

On the other hand, in some embodiments, a UE can further reduce energyconsumption by disabling the tracking channel procedure. In this case,the network does not actively track the UE. If a UE needs to send smallpackets on the uplink, the UE may re-enable the tracking channelprocedure or it may perform a random access procedure. On the downlink,a UE may only periodically monitor for a paging message from thenetwork. The paging message may be a multicast message to all UEs thatbelong to a paging group, for example. A paging procedure similar tothat of LTE may be used in some embodiments.

A UE in the IDLE state/sub-state does not maintain context informationwith the network, which means that a UE in the IDLE state/sub-statetypically incurs more delay in transmitting and receiving data, becauseit has to transition to a different state/sub-state and re-establishconnection(s) with the network before transmitting/receiving data. Insome embodiments, the transition between ECO and IDLE sub-states iswithout explicit state transition signalling. For example, in someembodiments only signalling associated with disabling and enabling atracking procedure may be signaled.

In some embodiments, the enhanced IDLE state can be configured by thenetwork based on services and/or UE types as shown in FIG. 4D. That is,not all UEs need to support the procedures associated with the ECOsub-state. Some UEs, such as the example UE 1 on the left of FIG. 5D(e.g. legacy UEs, UEs that do not have delay sensitive traffic, UEs thatrequire more battery saving) may only support the IDLE sub-state in theenhanced IDLE state. Some other UEs, such as the example UE 2 on theright of FIG. 5D (e.g. UEs with delay sensitive traffic, UEs that arenot battery power limited) may support both ECO and IDLE sub-states inthe enhanced IDLE state. For the UEs that support the proceduresassociated with the ECO sub-state, UE context is maintained with the RANto allow for fast transition (e.g., contention-free transition) to theACTIVE state. The state transition between the ACTIVE state and enhancedIDLE state may be similar to that of transition between the ACTIVE stateand ECO state as shown in FIG. 3. For UEs that do not support proceduresassociated with the ECO sub-state or such procedures are disabled, UEcontext with the RAN is released in the enhanced IDLE state, which issimilar to what occurs during the transition between the ACTIVE stateand IDLE state as shown in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, in an enhanced CONNECTED state as shown in FIG. 4C,a UE can transition between an ACTIVE sub-state and an ECO sub-state. AUE is in the ECO sub-state may enable a tracking procedure and maydisable an uplink sounding procedure. In some embodiments, the UE may beconfigured for grant-free uplink transmission in the ECO sub-state, inwhich case the UE may stop monitoring dynamic signalling resourceallocation for uplink grant. The UE may also stop monitoring downlinkscheduling assignments in the ECO sub-state. In some embodiments, a UEin the IDLE state (not shown in FIG. 4C) may be able to transition toeither the ACTIVE sub-state or the ECO sub-state of the enhancedCONNECTED state. In other embodiments, a UE in the IDLE state may onlybe able to transition to the ACTIVE sub-state in order to re-establish aconnection to the network, e.g., to send and/or receive data, i.e., a UEmay be able to transition from the ECO sub-state to the IDLE state, butmay not be permitted to transition directly from the IDLE state to theECO sub-state.

The six example state configurations shown in FIG. 4A are merelyillustrative examples. Other permutations and combinations of ACTIVE,ECO, and IDLE states, and enhanced versions thereof may be used in othercandidate state configurations in some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. For example, a further state configuration may include theACTIVE, ECO and IDLE states, similar to the sixth state configurationshown in FIG. 6, but may differ therefrom in that it omits one or moretransition paths between the operational states. For example, thetransition path from IDLE to ECO may be omitted. It is understood thatin some embodiments any other transition path may be omitted. As such,it should be noted that a state configuration may not only define a setof one or more operational states, but may also define valid transitionpaths between its constituent operational states. However, the validtransition paths may not be defined if every operational state in astate configuration can be transitioned to every other operational statein the state configuration.

By defining such a pool of candidate state configurations and assigninga UE a candidate state configuration that includes only thoseoperational states that the UE requires, additional signalling overheadthat would otherwise be incurred to support operational states that arenot utilized by the UE. Accordingly, the selection of a stateconfiguration for a given UE may be based on different UE-specificfactors that may include a UE type associated with the UE and/or one ormore services supported by the UE. As such, different UEs may havedifferent state configurations.

As noted above, in some embodiments, one of the factors upon which theselection of a state configuration for a given UE may be based is thecategory or type of the UE. For example, UEs may be categorized or typedaccording to some criteria. These categories or types may include afirst category or type for UEs configured for machine type communication(MTC), for example. The first category or type may be associated/mappedto state configurations that include only two operational states (e.g.,Config 2 and/or Config 1). A second category or type may be for morecapable devices, such as smartphones, for example. The second categoryor type may be associated/mapped to state configurations that includethree operational states (e.g., Config 6). A third category or type maybe defined for backward compatibility with the operational statesdefined in an earlier wireless communication system standard (e.g.,Config 4, where the ACTIVE and IDLE states are defined according to theRRC states in LTE/UMTS, for example). Information regarding the UE typemay be exchanged with the network as part of an initial network accessprocedure, for example.

In some embodiments, another factor upon which the selection of a stateconfiguration for a given UE may be based is the service(s) that the UEsupports. For example, an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) service maybe mapped to a state configuration that includes ACTIVE, ECO and IDLEstates with transition paths between each of those states (Config 6, forexample). Therefore, the state configuration that the eMBB service ismapped to may be selected for a UE that supports the eMBB service.

In some cases, a UE may support a number of different services that maybe mapped to different state configurations that include differentpermutations and combinations of operational states. As such, in somecases a UE that supports multiple services may be assigned multiplestate configurations from the pool of candidate state configurations.

In some cases, a network may be built in a flexible way so that speed,capacity and coverage can be allocated in logical network “slices” tomeet the specific demands of different services/traffic types. Forexample, a network slice may be configured to support the communicationservice of a particular connection type with a specific way of handlingthe control plane and user plane for the communication service. To thisend, a network slice may be composed of a collection of networkfunctions and specific radio access technology (RAT) settings that arecombined together for a specific use case. Thus, a network slice mayspan all domains of the network: software modules running on cloudnodes, specific configurations of the transport network supportingflexible location of functions, a dedicated radio configuration or evena specific RAT, as well as configuration of UEs. Not all network slicescontain the same functions. For example, a network slice may beconfigured to provide only the traffic treatment that is necessary for aparticular use case, and avoid all other unnecessary functionality. Asan example of a network slice, it can contain a portion of thetime-frequency resources in frequency partition in the physical layer,some resources (e.g. computing and processing power) of one or more TRPsin the network are allocated to a network slice. In another example of anetwork slice, the same time-frequency resources, one or more TRPs canbe shared among the different slices at different time.

In some embodiments, the services supported by a UE may be supportedthrough different network slices. From the network point of view, a UEsupporting a particular service belonging to a network slice may beassociated with a particular state configuration. In other words, theremay be a mapping between network slices and state configurations.

FIG. 5A illustrates examples of mappings between network slices andstate configurations according to example embodiments described herein.The illustrated examples include three network slices. The first networkslice supports an eMBB service and is mapped to a state configurationthat includes ACTIVE, ECO and IDLE states with transition paths betweeneach of those states (Config 6, for example). The second network slicesupports ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), such asvehicle-to-anything (V2X) communication, and is mapped to a stateconfiguration that includes ACTIVE and ECO states (Config 1, forexample) for always-on connectivity with low latency grant-freetransmission on uplink (UL) small packets and scheduled transmission ondownlink (DL) for large packets. The third network slice supportsmassive machine type communication (mMTC), such as embedded sensorcommunication, and is mapped to a state configuration that includes ECOand IDLE states (Config 2, for example) for energy savings and tosupport a massive connection of small packets with grant-freetransmission.

In some embodiments, a UE supporting multiple network slices (e.g., a UEsupporting a first service in a first network slice and a second servicein a second network slice, for example) may be configured with multiplestate configurations and may support a service within a given networkslice according to its respective state configuration. FIG. 5Billustrates an example of a UE configured with multiple stateconfigurations according to example embodiments described herein. In theillustrated example, the UE is configured to support services in twonetwork slices corresponding to the first and second network slicesillustrated in FIG. 5A and is configured with the two correspondingstate configurations (Configs 6 and 1, for example).

However, in some embodiments, a UE supporting multiple network slicesmay be configured with a single state configuration that includes all ofthe predefined operating states associated with the respective stateconfigurations associated with the multiple network slices supported bythe UE. For example, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5A, a UE thatsupports an eMBB service in the first network slice and a critical MTCservice in the second network slice may be configured with Config 6, asConfig 6 accommodates all of the operational states (and transitionpaths) of the state configurations with which the first and secondnetwork slices are associated. In other words, because the stateconfiguration that is associated with the first network slice, namely{ACTIVE, ECO, IDLE} includes all of the operational states that areassociated with state configuration that is associated with the secondnetwork slice, namely {ACTIVE, ECO}, the state configuration that isassociated with the first network slice may also be used for the secondnetwork slice.

In some cases a network slice may be mapped to a frequency sub-band. Insuch cases, different state configurations may therefore be configuredon different sub-bands. As a result, control channels may be configuredaccordingly (e.g. periodicity of monitoring and transmission. Feedbackreport and tracking channel on uplink, monitoring of paging and downlinkcontrol channels on the downlink). That is, a UE may be in ECO state inone sub-band and ACTIVE state in another sub-band.

Information regarding the service(s) that are supported by a UE may beexchanged with the network as part of an initial network accessprocedure and/or as part of a UE supported service change procedure inwhich the UE provides the network with information regarding a change toone or more services supported by the UE. As such, it is noted that achange to the service(s) supported by a UE may result in the selectionof a different state configuration for the UE. Therefore, it will beappreciated that the selection of one or more state configurations for aUE may be done statically and/or may change over time (semi-static)based on the supported services/traffic types.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate example message exchange diagrams between aUE and a network device according to example embodiments describedherein. The network device, for example, includes a TRP or controller.

FIG. 6A illustrates a message exchange diagram between a UE and anetwork device for a static state configuration. Information regardingthe UE type associated with the UE and/or service(s) supported by thedevice are exchanged with the network as part of a UE air interface (AI)capability exchange procedure. The UE AI capability exchange proceduremay occur when the UE initially attempts to access the network. Theprocedure is a higher layer (e.g. RRC) procedure. In the procedure, a UEmay send its UE air interface capability information to the network inresponse to the UE air interface capability enquiry message. In anotherexample, the UE AI capability exchange procedure is part of the UEcapability exchange procedure. In this regard, the AI capabilityinformation may be included in one or more information element(s) (IEs)of the message of the UE capability exchange procedure. The networkdevice selects a state configuration for the UE according to exampleembodiments described herein and transmits information to the UEregarding the selected state configuration. For example, the networkdevice may select the state configuration based at least in part on theinformation that it received as part of the UE AI capability exchangeprocedure (e.g., information regarding a UE type associated with the UEand/or information regarding one or more services supported by the UE).The information regarding the selected state configuration may bebroadcast in a broadcast message, multicast in a multicast message, orunicast to the particular UE in a unicast message.

FIG. 6B illustrates a message exchange diagram between a UE and anetwork device for a semi-static state configuration. Informationregarding a change to one or more services supported by the UE isexchanged with the network as part of a UE supported service changeprocedure. This procedure may involve UE sending of a message containinga change in the service to the network. This message can include the newservice type (e.g. eMBB, mMTC, URLLC). Responsive to receiving theinformation regarding the change to the one or more services supportedby the UE, the network device selects a replacement state configurationfrom among the plurality of candidate state configurations based atleast in part on the information regarding the change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE. The network device then transmitsinformation to the UE regarding the selected replacement stateconfiguration. In some cases, the change to the one or more servicessupported by the UE may not necessitate a change to the stateconfiguration(s) selected for the UE. As such, in some cases a selectedreplacement state configuration may be the same as a previously selectedstate configuration for the UE. The information regarding the selectedstate configuration may be broadcast in a broadcast message, multicastin a multicast message, or unicast to the particular UE in a unicastmessage.

In another embodiment, if there is a predefined mapping of UE stateconfigurations to services and/or UE types, the UE state configurationmay be implicitly indicated without explicit signalling. For example,after information regarding the UE type associated with the UE and/orservice(s) supported by the device are exchanged with the network aspart of a UE air interface (AI) capability exchange procedure, the UEstate configuration(s) may then be determined by the UE based on thepredefined mapping. In another example, after information regarding achange to one or more services supported by the UE is exchanged with thenetwork as part of a UE supported service change procedure, the UE stateconfiguration(s) may then be determined by the UE based on thepredefined mapping.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations 700 in a networkdevice according to example embodiments described herein. Operations 700may be indicative of operations occurring in a network device such as aneNB, a picocell or the like.

Operations 700 may begin with a UE performing initial entry with thenetwork (block 705). The UE may be a smartphone, a sensor, a personalcomputer, a tablet or the like. As discussed previously, the networkdevice may select a state configuration for the UE from among aplurality of candidate state configurations (block 710). Each candidatestate configuration may be associated with a respective set of one ormore predefined operating states from among a plurality of predefinedoperating states. The network device may transmit information to the UEregarding the selected state configuration (block 715).

The example operations 700 are illustrative of an example embodiment. Inother embodiments, similar or different operations could be performed ina similar or different order and/or certain operations may be omitted.Various ways to perform the illustrated operations, as well as examplesof other operations that may be performed, are described herein. Furthervariations may be or become apparent.

For example, in some embodiments, selecting a state configuration atblock 710 includes selecting a state configuration based at least inpart on a UE type associated with the UE and/or one or more servicessupported by the UE. For example, as part of initial entry at block 705or sometime thereafter, the UE may provide the network with informationregarding a UE type associated with the UE and/or information regardingone or more services supported by the UE, which the network device mayuse to select a state configuration at block 710.

In some embodiments, information regarding a change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE may be received as part of a UE supportedservice change procedure. Responsive to receiving such information, thenetwork device may select a replacement state configuration and transmitinformation to the UE regarding the selected replacement stateconfiguration, as discussed previously with reference to FIG. 6B.

In some embodiments, selecting a state configuration at block 715includes selecting a first state configuration based at least in part ona first service supported by the UE and selecting a second stateconfiguration based at least in part on a second service supported bythe UE. Similarly, transmitting information regarding the selected stateconfiguration to the UE at block 715 may include transmittinginformation regarding the selected first and second stateconfigurations. In such cases, the operations 700 may further includeproviding the first service in a first network slice in accordance withthe first state configuration and providing the second service in asecond network slice in accordance with the second state configuration.

In some embodiments, each of a plurality of network slice may beassociated with a respective state configuration, and selecting a stateconfiguration at block 710 may involve selecting a state configurationfor multiple network slices supported by the UE, where the selectedstate configuration includes all of the predefined operating statesassociated with the respective state configurations associated with themultiple network slices supported by the UE. In such embodiments,operations 700 may further include providing services to the UE in themultiple network slices supported by the UE in accordance with theselected state configuration.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations 800 in a UEaccording to example embodiments described herein. Operations 800 may beindicative of operations in a UE such as a smartphone, a sensor, apersonal computer, a tablet or the like.

Operations 800 may begin with the UE performing initial entry with awireless network (block 805). For example, the UE may perform initialentry with a network device such as an eNB, a picocell, or the like. Asdiscussed previously, the UE may receive, from the wireless network,information regarding a state configuration selected for the UE fromamong a plurality of candidate state configurations (block 810). Eachcandidate state configuration may be associated with a respective set ofone or more predefined operating states from among a plurality ofpredefined operating states. The UE may communicate with the wirelessnetwork in accordance with the selected state configuration (block 815).For example, the UE may use the information regarding the selected stateconfiguration to configure a state machine in the UE.

The example operations 800 are illustrative of an example embodiment. Inother embodiments, similar or different operations could be performed ina similar or different order and/or certain operations may be omitted.Various ways to perform the illustrated operations, as well as examplesof other operations that may be performed, are described herein. Furthervariations may be or become apparent.

For example, in some embodiments the initial entry procedure at block805 involves a UE air interface capability exchange procedure thatinvolves transmitting information to the wireless network regarding a UEtype associated with the UE and/or one or more services supported by theUE.

In some embodiments, operations 800 may further include transmitting, aspart of a UE supported service change procedure, information regarding achange to the one or more services supported by the UE, and thensubsequently receiving information regarding a replacement stateconfiguration selected for the UE based at least in part on theinformation regarding the change to the one or more services supportedby the UE. The UE may then communicate with the wireless network inaccordance with the selected replacement state configuration.

In some embodiments, the UE may support multiple services, including atleast a first service and a second service. In such embodiments,receiving information regarding a state configuration selected for theUE at block 810 may include receiving a first state configurationselected based at least in part on the first service supported by the UEand receiving a second state configuration selected from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe second service supported by the UE. Communicating with the wirelessnetwork in accordance with the selected state configuration at block 815may then include communicating with the wireless network in respect ofthe first service in accordance with the first selected stateconfiguration and communicating with the wireless network in respect ofthe second service in accordance with the second selected stateconfiguration.

In some embodiments, the first and second services may be supported byfirst and second network slices respectively. As such, in someembodiments, communicating with the wireless network in respect of thefirst and second service in accordance with the first and secondselected state configuration may include communicating with first andsecond network slice of the wireless network in accordance with thefirst and second selected state configurations.

In some embodiments, the first and second network slices may beallocated to a first and second time-frequency resources (e.g.sub-bands). As such, in some embodiments, communicating with thewireless network in accordance with the first and second selected stateconfiguration may include communicating with first and secondtime-frequency resources.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of example operations 900 in a UEaccording to example embodiments described herein. Operations 900 may beindicative of operations in a UE such as a smartphone, a sensor, apersonal computer, a tablet or the like.

Operations 900 may begin with the UE performing initial entry with awireless network (block 905). For example, the UE may perform initialentry with a network device such as an eNB, a picocell, or the like. Asdiscussed previously, the UE may select a state configuration from amonga plurality of candidate state configurations (block 910). Eachcandidate state configuration may be associated with a respective one ormore predefined operating states. The UE may communicate with thewireless network in accordance with the selected state configuration(block 915). For example, the UE may use the information regarding theselected state configuration to configure a state machine in the UE.

The example operations 900 are illustrative of an example embodiment. Inother embodiments, similar or different operations could be performed ina similar or different order and/or certain operations may be omitted.Various ways to perform the illustrated operations, as well as examplesof other operations that may be performed, are described herein. Furthervariations may be or become apparent.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example communication device1000 according to example embodiments described herein. Communicationdevice 1000 may be an implementation of a network device, such as a eNB,a picocell or the like. Communication device 1000 may be used toimplement various ones of the embodiments discussed herein.

As shown in FIG. 10, communication device 1000 includes a wirelessinterface 1005. Wireless interface 1005 includes a transmitter 1030configured to send messages, and the like, and a receiver 1035configured to receive messages, and the like.

A UE information processing unit 1020 is configured to receive, viawireless interface 1005, information regarding a UE type associated witha UE and/or information regarding one or more services supported by theUE. For example, UE information processing unit 1020 may be configuredto perform the actions of the network device according to the UE airinterface capability exchange procedure illustrated in FIG. 6A. UEinformation processing unit 1020 could, for example, include amicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, fieldprogrammable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

A state configuration selection unit 1025 is configured to select, forthe UE, a state configuration from among a plurality of candidate stateconfigurations as described herein. Each candidate state configurationmay be associated with a respective set of one or more predefinedoperating states from among a plurality of predefined operating states.The state configuration selection unit 1025 is further configured totransmit, via wireless interface 1005, information to the UE regardingthe selected state configuration. State configuration selection unit1025 could, for example, include a microprocessor, microcontroller,digital signal processor, field programmable gate array, or applicationspecific integrated circuit.

In some embodiments, state configuration selection unit 1025 isconfigured to select a state configuration based at least in part on theinformation received by UE information processing unit 1020 regardingthe UE type associated with the UE and/or one or more services supportedby the UE.

In some embodiments, UE information processing unit 1020 may be furtherconfigured to receive, via wireless interface 1005, information from theUE regarding a change to the one or more services supported by the UE.This information may be received as part of a UE supported servicechange procedure, for example. State configuration selection unit 1025may be further configured to select a replacement state configurationfor the UE responsive to UE information processing unit 1020 havingreceived such information. State configuration selection unit 1025 maybe further configured to transmit, via wireless interface 1005,information to the UE regarding the selected replacement stateconfiguration, as discussed previously with reference to FIG. 6B.

In some embodiments, state configuration selection unit 1025 isconfigured to select a first state configuration based at least in parton a first service supported by the UE and select a second stateconfiguration based at least in part on a second service supported bythe UE. Similarly, state configuration selection unit 1025 may befurther configured to transmit information regarding the selected firstand second state configurations to the UE via wireless interface 1005.In such embodiments, the network device 1000 may be configured toprovide the first service in a first network slice in accordance withthe first state configuration and to provide the second service in asecond network slice in accordance with the second state configuration.

In some embodiments, each of a plurality of network slice may beassociated with a respective state configuration, and stateconfiguration selection unit 1025 may be configured to select a stateconfiguration for multiple network slices supported by the UE, where theselected state configuration includes all of the predefined operatingstates associated with the respective state configurations associatedwith the multiple network slices supported by the UE. In suchembodiments, the network device 1000 may be configured to provideservices to the UE in the multiple network slices supported by the UE inaccordance with the selected state configuration.

A memory 1015 is configured to store information regarding predefinedoperating states, candidate state configurations, selected stateconfigurations, UE types, supported services, detected signals, decodedsignals, and the like.

The elements of communication device 1000 may be implemented as specifichardware logic blocks. In an alternative, the elements of communicationdevice 1000 may be implemented as software executing in a processor,controller, application specific integrated circuit, or so on. In yetanother alternative, the elements of communication device 1000 may beimplemented as a combination of software and/or hardware.

As an example, transmitter 1030 and receiver 1035 may be implemented asa specific hardware block, while UE information processing unit 1020 andstate configuration selection unit 1025 may be software modulesexecuting in a processor 1010, such as a microprocessor, a digitalsignal processor, a custom circuit, or a custom compiled logic array ofa field programmable logic array. UE information processing unit 1020and state configuration selection unit 1025 may be modules stored inmemory 1015.

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example communication device1100 according to example embodiments described herein. Communicationdevice 1100 may be an implementation of a UE, such as a smartphone, asensor, a PC, a tablet or the like. Communication device 1100 may beused to implement various ones of the embodiments discussed herein.

As shown in FIG. 11, communication device 1100 includes a wirelessinterface 1105. Wireless interface 1105 includes a transmitter 1130configured to send messages, and the like, and a receiver 1135configured to receive messages, and the like.

A UE information informing unit 1120 is configured to transmit, viawireless interface 1105, information regarding a UE type associated withthe UE and/or information regarding one or more services supported bythe UE. For example, UE information informing unit 1120 may beconfigured to perform the actions of the UE according to the UE airinterface capability exchange procedure illustrated in FIG. 6A. UEinformation informing unit 1120 could, for example, include amicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, fieldprogrammable gate array, or application specific integrated circuit.

A state configuration controlling unit 1125 is configured to receive,via wireless interface 1105, information regarding a state configurationselected for the UE from among a plurality of candidate stateconfigurations as described herein. Each candidate state configurationmay be associated with a respective set of one or more predefinedoperating states from among a plurality of predefined operating states.The state configuration controlling unit 1125 is further configured tocontrol the UE 1100 to facilitate communication via the wirelessinterface 1105 in accordance with the selected state configuration. Forexample, the state configuration controlling unit 1125 may use theinformation regarding the selected state configuration to configure astate machine. State configuration controlling unit 1125 could, forexample, include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signalprocessor, field programmable gate array, or application specificintegrated circuit.

In some embodiments, UE information informing unit 1120 is furtherconfigured to transmit, via wireless interface 1105, informationregarding a change to one or more services supported by the UE. Forexample, UE information informing unit 1120 may be configured to performthe actions of the UE according to the UE supported service changeprocedure illustrated in FIG. 6B. In such embodiments, stateconfiguration controlling unit 1125 may be further configured toreceive, via wireless interface 1105, information regarding areplacement state configuration selected for the UE based at least inpart on the information regarding the change to the one or more servicessupported by the UE. The state configuration controlling unit 1125 maythen control the UE 1100 to facilitate communication via the wirelessinterface 1105 in accordance with the selected replacement stateconfiguration.

In some embodiments, the UE 1100 may support multiple services,including at least a first service and a second service. In suchembodiments, state configuration controlling unit 1125 may be configuredto receive first and second state configurations in respect of the firstand second services and control the UE 1100 to facilitate communicationvia the wireless interface 1105 in respect of the first and secondservices in accordance with the first and second selected stateconfigurations.

In some embodiments, the first and second services may be supported byfirst and second network slices respectively. As such, in someembodiments, state configuration controlling unit 1125 may be configuredto control the UE 1100 to facilitate communication via the wirelessinterface 1105 through the first and second network slice in accordancewith the first and second selected state configurations.

A memory 1115 is configured to store information regarding thepredefined operating states, candidate state configurations, selectedstate configurations, the device's UE type, supported services, detectedsignals, decoded signals, and the like.

The elements of communication device 1100 may be implemented as specifichardware logic blocks. In an alternative, the elements of communicationdevice 1100 may be implemented as software executing in a processor,controller, application specific integrated circuit, or so on. In yetanother alternative, the elements of communication device 1100 may beimplemented as a combination of software and/or hardware.

As an example, transmitter 1130 and receiver 1135 may be implemented asa specific hardware block, while UE information informing unit 1120 andstate configuration controlling unit 1125 may be software modulesexecuting in a processor 1110, such as a microprocessor, a digitalsignal processor, a custom circuit, or a custom compiled logic array ofa field programmable logic array. UE information informing unit 1120 andstate configuration controlling unit 1125 may be modules stored inmemory 1115.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate example devices that may implement themethods and teachings according to this disclosure. In particular, FIG.12 illustrates an example UE 1200, and FIG. 13 illustrates an examplenetwork device 1300. These components could be used in the system 100shown in FIG. 1 or in any other suitable system.

As shown in FIG. 12, the UE 1200 includes at least one processing unit1210. The processing unit 1210 implements various processing operationsof the UE 1200. For example, the processing unit 1210 is configured toperform the UE functions and/or operations according to the embodimentsdescribed herein. In addition, the processing unit 1210 may also beconfigured to perform signal coding, data processing, power control,input/output processing, or any other functionality enabling the UE 1200to operate in the system 100. Each processing unit 1210 includes anysuitable processing or computing device configured to perform one ormore of the UE functions/operations. Each processing unit 1210 could,for example, include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signalprocessor, field programmable gate array, or application specificintegrated circuit.

The UE 1200 also includes at least one transceiver 1212. The transceiver1212 is configured to modulate data or other content for transmission byat least one antenna or NIC (Network Interface Controller) 1214. Thetransceiver 1212 is also configured to demodulate data or other contentreceived by the at least one antenna 1214. Each transceiver 1212includes any suitable structure for generating signals for wireless orwired transmission and/or processing signals received wirelessly or bywire. Each antenna 1214 includes any suitable structure for transmittingand/or receiving wireless or wired signals. One or multiple transceivers1212 could be used in the UE 1200, and one or multiple antennas 1214could be used in the UE 1200. Although shown as a single functionalunit, a transceiver 1212 could also be implemented using at least onetransmitter and at least one separate receiver.

The UE 1200 further includes one or more input/output devices 1216 orinterfaces (such as a wired interface to the internet 150). Theinput/output devices 1216 facilitate interaction with a user or otherdevices (network communications) in the network. Each input/outputdevice 1216 includes any suitable structure for providing information toor receiving/providing information from a user, such as a speaker,microphone, keypad, keyboard, display, or touch screen, includingnetwork interface communications.

In addition, the UE 1200 includes at least one memory 1218. The memory1218 stores instructions and data used, generated, or collected by theUE 1200. For example, the memory 1218 could store software or firmwareinstructions which, when executed by the processing unit(s) 1210, causethe processing unit(s) 1210 to perform the UE functions and/oroperations according to the embodiments described herein. Each memory1218 includes any suitable volatile and/or non-volatile storage andretrieval device(s). Any suitable type of memory may be used, such asrandom access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), hard disk, opticaldisc, subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory stick, securedigital (SD) memory card, and the like. In other implementations, theprocessing unit(s) 1210 and memory 1218 form circuitry which isconfigured to perform the UE functions and/or operations according tothe embodiments described herein.

As shown in FIG. 13, the network device 1300 includes at least oneprocessing unit 1310, at least one transceiver 1312, which includesfunctionality for a transmitter and a receiver, one or more antennas1314, at least one memory 1318, and one or more input/output devices orinterfaces 1316. The processing unit 1310 is configured to perform thenetwork device functions and/or operations according to the embodimentsdescribed herein. In addition, the processing unit 1310 may also beconfigured to perform various other processing operations of the networkdevice 1300, such as signal coding, data processing, power control,input/output processing, or any other functionality necessary to providenetwork access to the UE 1200 or enable the UE 1200 to operate in thesystem 100. Each processing unit 1310 includes any suitable processingor computing device configured to perform one or more operations. Eachprocessing unit 1310 could, for example, include a microprocessor,microcontroller, digital signal processor, field programmable gatearray, or application specific integrated circuit.

Each transceiver 1312 includes any suitable structure for generatingsignals for wireless or wired transmission to one or more UEs or otherdevices. Each transceiver 1312 further includes any suitable structurefor processing signals received wirelessly or by wire from one or moreUEs or other devices. Although shown combined as a transceiver 1312, atransmitter and a receiver could be separate components. Each antenna1314 includes any suitable structure for transmitting and/or receivingwireless or wired signals. While a common antenna 1314 is shown here asbeing coupled to the transceiver 1312, one or more antennas 1314 couldbe coupled to the transceiver(s) 1312, allowing separate antennas 1314to be coupled to the transmitter and the receiver if equipped asseparate components. Each memory 1318 includes any suitable volatileand/or non-volatile storage and retrieval device(s). Each input/outputdevice 1316 facilitates interaction with a user or other devices(network communications) in the network. Each input/output device 1316includes any suitable structure for providing information to orreceiving/providing information from a user, including network interfacecommunications.

Example Embodiments

The following provides a non-limiting list of example embodiments of thepresent disclosure:

Example Embodiment 1

A method for supporting multiple user equipment (UE) stateconfigurations in a wireless network, the method comprising:

selecting, by a UE, a state configuration from among a plurality ofcandidate state configurations, each candidate state configuration beingassociated with a respective set of one or more predefined operatingstates; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected state configuration.

Example Embodiment 2

The method of Example embodiment 1, further comprising:

wherein the state configuration selected by the UE is selected fromamong the plurality of candidate state configurations based at least inpart on at least one of: a UE type associated with the UE; and one ormore services supported by the UE.

Example Embodiment 3

The method of Example embodiment 2, further comprising:

selecting, by the UE, a replacement state configuration from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe change to the one or more services supported by the UE; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected replacement state configuration.

Example Embodiment 4

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 3, wherein:

the UE supports multiple services, including at least a first serviceand a second service;

selecting, by the UE, a state configuration from among the plurality ofcandidate state configurations comprises:

selecting, by the UE, a first state configuration selected from amongthe plurality of candidate state configurations based at least in parton the first service supported by the UE; and

selecting, by the UE, a second state configuration from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe second service supported by the UE; and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in accordance withthe selected state configuration comprises:

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in respect of thefirst service in accordance with the first selected state configuration;and

communicating, by the UE, with the wireless network in respect of thesecond service in accordance with the second selected stateconfiguration.

Example Embodiment 5

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 4, wherein:

communicating with the wireless network in respect of the first servicein accordance with the first selected state configuration comprisescommunicating with a first network slice of the wireless network inaccordance with the first selected state configuration; and

communicating with the wireless network in respect of the second servicein accordance with the second selected state configuration comprisescommunicating with a second network slice of the wireless network inaccordance with the second selected state configuration.

Example Embodiment 6

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the selectedstate configuration comprises at least:

a first energy-conserving operating state in which UE context with aradio access network (RAN) is maintained by the UE; and

a second energy-conserving operating state in which no UE context withthe RAN is maintained by the UE.

Example Embodiment 7

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 6, wherein communicatingwith the wireless network in accordance with the selected stateconfiguration comprises maintaining light connection management with theRAN on at least one of uplink and downlink when operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 8

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 7, wherein maintaininglight connection management with the RAN on at least one of uplink anddownlink comprises maintaining light connection management on uplink anddownlink when operating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 9

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 7, wherein communicatingwith the wireless network in accordance with the selected stateconfiguration comprises configuring the UE for grant-free uplinktransmission in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 10

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 6, wherein communicatingwith the wireless network in accordance with the selected stateconfiguration comprises configuring the UE with a tracking channel inthe first energy-conserving operating state to facilitate periodiclocation tracking of the UE.

Example Embodiment 11

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the selectedstate configuration further comprises an active operating state in whichthe UE performs active connection management with the RAN on uplink anddownlink.

Example Embodiment 12

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the selectedstate configuration includes a state transition path from the secondenergy-conserving operating state to the active operating state, butdoes not include a state transition path from the secondenergy-conserving operating state to the first energy-conservingoperating state.

Example Embodiment 13

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 11, wherein transitioningbetween the first-energy conserving operating state and the activeoperating state is contention-free.

Example Embodiment 14

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 11, wherein:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced CONNECTEDoperating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 15

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 14, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state aredone without explicit state transition signalling to the wirelessnetwork.

Example Embodiment 16

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 11, wherein:

the selected state configuration further comprises an enhanced IDLEoperating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 17

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 16, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state are donewithout explicit state transition signalling to the wireless network.

Example Embodiment 18

The method of any of Example embodiments 1 to 16, wherein, in theenhanced IDLE operating state, the UE is configured to operate in one ofthe sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Example Embodiment 19

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor,the computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming comprising instructions to:

select a state configuration from among a plurality of candidate stateconfigurations, each candidate state configuration being associated witha respective set of one or more predefined operating states; andcommunicate, via the wireless interface, with a wireless network inaccordance with the selected state configuration.

Example Embodiment 20

The UE of Example embodiment 19, wherein the instructions to select astate configuration from among a plurality of candidate stateconfigurations comprises instructions to:

select a state configuration from among the plurality of candidate stateconfigurations based at least in part on at least one of: a UE typeassociated with the UE; and one or more services supported by the UE.

Example Embodiment 21

The UE of Example embodiment 20, wherein the programming furthercomprises instructions to:

select a replacement state configuration from among the plurality ofcandidate state configurations responsive to a change to the one or moreservices supported by the UE; and

communicate, via the wireless interface, with the wireless network inaccordance with the selected replacement state configuration.

Example Embodiment 22

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 21, wherein:

the UE supports multiple services, including at least a first serviceand a second service;

the instructions to select a state configuration comprise instructionsto:

select a first state configuration from among the plurality of candidatestate configurations based at least in part on the first servicesupported by the UE; and

select a second state configuration from among the plurality ofcandidate state configurations based at least in part on the secondservice supported by the UE; and

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in accordancewith the selected state configuration comprise instructions to:

communicate with the wireless network in respect of the first service inaccordance with the first selected state configuration; and

communicate with the wireless network in respect of the second servicein accordance with the second selected state configuration.

Example Embodiment 23

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 22, wherein:

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in respect ofthe first service in accordance with the first selected stateconfiguration comprise instructions to communicate with a first networkslice of the wireless network in accordance with the first selectedstate configuration; and

the instructions to communicate with the wireless network in respect ofthe second service in accordance with the second selected stateconfiguration comprise instructions to communicate with a second networkslice of the wireless network in accordance with the second selectedstate configuration.

Example Embodiment 24

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 23, wherein the selectedstate configuration comprises at least:

a first energy-conserving operating state in which UE context with aradio access network (RAN) is maintained; and

a second energy-conserving operating state in which no UE context withthe RAN is maintained by the UE.

Example Embodiment 25

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 24, wherein the instructionsto communicate with the wireless network in accordance with the selectedstate configuration comprise instructions to maintain light connectionmanagement with the wireless network on at least one of uplink anddownlink when operating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 26

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 25, wherein the UE isconfigured for grant-free uplink transmission in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 27

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 24, wherein the operatingstates of the state machine further comprise:

an active operating state in which the UE performs active connectionmanagement with the RAN on uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 28

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 27, wherein transitioningbetween the first-energy conserving operating state and the activeoperating state is contention-free.

Example Embodiment 29

The UE of Example embodiment 27, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 30

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 29, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced

CONNECTED operating state are done without explicit state transitionsignalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 31

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 27, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 32

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 31, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state are donewithout explicit state transition signalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 33

The UE of any of Example embodiments 19 to 31, wherein, in the enhancedIDLE operating state, the UE is configured to operate in one of thesub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Example Embodiment 34

A method for operating a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

the UE operating based on a state machine having a plurality ofoperating states and state transition paths between at least a subset ofthe operating states, the plurality of operating states of the statemachine comprising at least:

a first energy-conserving operating state in which UE context with aradio access network (RAN) is maintained by the UE; and

a second energy-conserving operating state in which no UE context withthe RAN is maintained by the UE.

Example Embodiment 35

The method of Example embodiment 34, wherein operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state comprises maintaining light connectionmanagement with the RAN on at least one of uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 36

The method of Example embodiment 35, wherein, in the firstenergy-conserving operating state, the UE maintains light connectionmanagement on uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 37

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 36, wherein the UE isconfigured for grant-free uplink transmission in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 38

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 37, wherein, in the firstenergy-conserving operating state, the UE is configured with a trackingchannel to facilitate periodic location tracking of the UE.

Example Embodiment 39

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 38, wherein the operatingstates of the state machine further comprise:

an active operating state in which the UE performs active connectionmanagement with the RAN on uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 40

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 39, wherein the statemachine includes a state transition path from the secondenergy-conserving operating state to the active operating state, butdoes not include a state transition path from the secondenergy-conserving operating state to the first energy-conservingoperating state.

Example Embodiment 41

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 39, wherein transitioningbetween the first-energy conserving operating state and the activeoperating state is contention-free.

Example Embodiment 42

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 39, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 43

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 42, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state aredone without explicit state transition signalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 44

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 39, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 45

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 44, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state are donewithout explicit state transition signalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 46

The method of any of Example embodiments 34 to 44, wherein, in theenhanced IDLE operating state, the UE is configured to operate in one ofthe sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Example Embodiment 47

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor,the computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming comprising instructions to:

operate the UE based on a state machine having a plurality of operatingstates and state transition paths between at least a subset of theoperating states, the operating states of the state machine comprisingat least:

a first energy-conserving operating state in which UE context with aradio access network (RAN) is maintained by the UE; and

a second energy-conserving operating state in which no UE context withthe RAN is maintained by the UE.

Example Embodiment 48

The UE of Example embodiment 47, wherein operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state comprises maintaining light connectionmanagement with the RAN on at least one of uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 49

The UE of Example embodiment 48, wherein, in the first energy-conservingoperating state, the UE maintains light connection management on uplinkand downlink.

Example Embodiment 50

The UE of Example embodiment 48, wherein the UE is configured forgrant-free uplink transmission in the first energy-conserving operatingstate.

Example Embodiment 51

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 51, wherein the operatingstates of the state machine further comprise:

an active operating state in which the UE performs active connectionmanagement with the RAN on uplink and downlink.

Example Embodiment 52

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 51, wherein transitioningbetween the first-energy conserving operating state and the activeoperating state is contention-free.

Example Embodiment 53

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 51, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 54

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 53, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state aredone without explicit state transition signalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 55

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 51, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 56

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 55, wherein transitionsbetween the sub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state are donewithout explicit state transition signalling to the RAN.

Example Embodiment 57

The UE of any of Example embodiments 47 to 55, wherein, in the enhancedIDLE operating state, the UE is configured to operate in one of thesub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Example Embodiment 58

A method in a radio access network (RAN) device, the method comprising:

for a user equipment (UE) operating based on a state machine having aplurality of operating states and state transition paths between atleast a subset of the operating states, the operating states of thestate machine comprising at least a first energy-conserving operatingstate and a second energy-conserving operating state:

-   -   maintaining UE context information for the UE when the UE is        operating in the first energy-conserving operating state; and    -   not maintaining UE context information for the UE when the UE is        operating in the second energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 59

The method of Example embodiment 58, further comprising maintaininglight connection management with the UE on at least one of uplink anddownlink when the UE is operating in the first energy-conservingoperating state.

Example Embodiment 60

The method of Example embodiment 59, further comprising receiving agrant-free uplink transmission from the UE when the UE is operating inthe first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 61

The method of any of Example embodiments 58 to 60, further comprisingthe network device performing location tracking of the UE when the UE isoperating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 62

The method of any of Example embodiments 58 to 61, wherein the operatingstates of the state machine further comprise an active operating state,the method further comprising:

performing active connection management with the UE on uplink anddownlink when the UE is operating in the active operating state.

Example Embodiment 63

The method of any of Example embodiments 58 to 62, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 64

The method of any of Example embodiments 58 to 62, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 65

The method of any of Example embodiments 58 to 64, wherein, for theenhanced IDLE operating state of the UE, the network device isconfigured to communicate with the UE in accordance with one of thesub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Example Embodiment 66

A network device comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and

a computer readable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor,the computer readable storage medium storing programming for executionby the processor, the programming comprising instructions to:

for a user equipment (UE) operating based on a state machine having aplurality of operating states and state transition paths between atleast a subset of the operating states, the operating states of thestate machine comprising at least a first energy-conserving operatingstate and a second energy-conserving operating state:

maintain UE context information for the UE when the UE is operating inthe first energy-conserving operating state; and

not maintain UE context information for the UE when the UE is operatingin the second energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 67

The network device of Example embodiment 66, wherein the programmingfurther comprises instructions to maintain light connection managementwith the UE on at least one of uplink and downlink when the UE isoperating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 68

The network device of Example embodiment 67, the programming comprisinginstructions to monitor for grant-free uplink transmission from the UEwhen the UE is operating in the first energy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 69

The network device of any of Example embodiments 66 to 68, wherein theprogramming further comprises instructions to perform a locationtracking procedure for the UE when the UE is operating in the firstenergy-conserving operating state.

Example Embodiment 70

The network device of any of Example embodiments 66 to 69, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an activeoperating state; and

the programming further comprises instructions to perform activeconnection management with the UE on uplink and downlink when the UE isoperating in the active operating state.

Example Embodiment 71

The network device of any of Example embodiments 66 to 70, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedCONNECTED operating state; and

the active operating state and the first energy-conserving operatingstate are sub-states of the enhanced CONNECTED operating state.

Example Embodiment 72

The network device of any of Example embodiments 66 to 70, wherein:

the operating states of the state machine further comprise an enhancedIDLE operating state; and

the first energy-conserving operating state and the secondenergy-conserving operating state are sub-states of the enhanced IDLEoperating state.

Example Embodiment 73

The network device of any of Example embodiments 66 to 72, wherein, forthe enhanced IDLE operating state of the UE, the network device isconfigured to communicate with the UE in accordance with one of thesub-states of the enhanced IDLE operating state based on servicessupported by the UE and/or a UE type associated with the UE.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present application arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the applicationmay be practised otherwise than as specifically described herein.

In addition, although described primarily in the context of methods,device and equipment, other implementations are also contemplated, suchas in the form of instructions stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, for example.

We claim:
 1. A method for supporting multiple user equipment (UE) stateconfigurations in a wireless network, the method comprising: selecting,by a network device, a first state configuration for a first UE fromamong a plurality of candidate state configurations, wherein the firststate configuration is associated with a first set of predefinedoperating states which at least includes a first operating state and asecond operating state, wherein both the first operating state and thesecond operating state support a communication between the networkdevice and a UE; selecting, by the network device, a second stateconfiguration for a second UE from among the plurality of candidatestate configurations, wherein the second state configuration isassociated with a second set of predefined operating states which atleast includes the first operating state, wherein the first operatingstate is the only operating state, in the second set of predefinedoperating states, that supports a communication between the networkdevice and a UE, and wherein at least one of the first set of predefinedoperating states and the second set of predefined operating statesfurther includes a third operating state which does not support acommunication between the network device and a UE; transmitting, by thenetwork device to the first UE, information regarding the first stateconfiguration; and transmitting, by the network device to the second UE,information regarding the second state configuration.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the network device selects the first stateconfiguration based at least in part on at least one of: a UE typeassociated with the first UE or a service supported by the first UE;and/or the network device selects the second state configuration basedat least in part on at least one of: a UE type associated with thesecond UE or a service supported by the second UE.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein: the network device selects the first stateconfiguration based at least in part on at least one of: a UE typeassociated with the first UE or a service supported by the first; andthe method further comprises: receiving, by the network device,information regarding a change to a first service supported by the firstUE; selecting, by the network device, a replacement state configurationfor the first UE from among the plurality of candidate stateconfigurations based at least in part on the information regarding thechange to the first service supported by the first UE; and transmitting,by the network device, information to the first UE regarding theselected replacement state configuration; and/or the network deviceselects the second state configuration based at least in part on atleast one of: a UE type associated with the second UE or a servicesupported by the second UE; and the method further comprises: receiving,by the network device, information regarding a change to a secondservice supported by the second UE; selecting, by the network device, areplacement state configuration for the second UE from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe information regarding the change to the second service supported bythe second UE; and transmitting, by the network device, information tothe second UE regarding the selected replacement state configuration. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating state is not anACTIVE state.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operatingstate is an ECO state, the second operating state is an ACTIVE state,and the third operating state is an IDLE state.
 6. An apparatuscomprising: a wireless interface; a processor operatively coupled to thewireless interface; and a computer readable storage medium operativelycoupled to the processor, the computer readable storage medium storingprogramming for execution by the processor, the programming comprisinginstructions to: select a first state configuration for a first userequipment (UE) from among a plurality of candidate state configurations,wherein the first state configuration is associated with a first set ofpredefined operating states which at least includes a first operatingstate and a second operating state, wherein both the first operatingstate and the second operating state support a communication between thenetwork device and a UE; select a second state configuration for asecond UE from among the plurality of candidate state configurations,wherein the second state configuration is associated with a second setof predefined operating states which at least includes the firstoperating state, wherein the first operating state is the only operatingstate, in the second set of predefined operating states, that supports acommunication between the network device and a UE, wherein at least oneof the first set of predefined operating states and the second set ofpredefined operating states further includes a third operating statewhich does not support a communication between the network device and aUE; transmit, via the wireless interface, information to the first UEregarding the first state configuration; and transmit, via the wirelessinterface, information to the second UE regarding the second stateconfiguration.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the instructions toselect a first state configuration for the first UE compriseinstructions to select the first state configuration based at least inpart on at least one of: a UE type associated with the first UE or aservice supported by the first UE; and/or the instructions to select thesecond state configuration for the second UE comprise instructions toselect the second state configuration based at least in part on at leastone of: a UE type associated with the second UE or a service supportedby the second UE.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the instructionsto select a first state configuration for the first UE compriseinstructions to select the first state configuration based at least inpart on at least one of: a UE type associated with the first UE or aservice supported by the first UE; and the programming further comprisesinstructions to: receive, via the wireless interface, informationregarding a change to a first service supported by the first UE; selecta replacement state configuration for the first UE from among theplurality of candidate state configurations based at least in part onthe information regarding the change to the first service supported bythe first UE; and transmit, via the wireless interface, information tothe first UE regarding the selected replacement state configuration;and/or the instructions to select the second state configuration for thesecond UE comprise instructions to select the second state configurationbased at least in part on at least one of: a UE type associated with thesecond UE or a service supported by the second UE; and the programmingfurther comprises instructions to: receive, via the wireless interface,information regarding a change to a second service supported by thesecond UE; select a replacement state configuration for the second UEfrom among the plurality of candidate state configurations based atleast in part on the information regarding the change to the secondservice supported by the second UE; and transmit, via the wirelessinterface, information to the second UE regarding the selectedreplacement state configuration.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, whereinthe first operating state is not an ACTIVE state.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the first operating state is an ECO state, the secondoperating state is an ACTIVE state, and the third operating state is anIDLE state.
 11. A method for supporting multiple UE state configurationsin a wireless network, the method comprising: receiving, by a userequipment (UE), from a network device in the wireless network,information regarding a state configuration from among a plurality ofcandidate state configurations, the plurality of candidate stateconfigurations comprising at least a first state configurationassociated with a first set of predefined operating states which atleast includes a first operating state and a second operating state,wherein both the first operating state and the second operating statesupport a communication between the network device and a UE, and asecond state configuration associated with a second set of predefinedoperating states which at least includes the first operating state,wherein the first operating state is the only operating state, in thesecond set of predefined operating states, that supports a communicationbetween the network device and a UE, wherein at least one of the firstset of predefined operating states and the second set of predefinedoperating states further includes a third operating state which does notsupport a communication between the network device and a UE, and whereinthe state configuration is one of the first state configuration and thesecond state configuration; and communicating, by the UE, with thenetwork device in accordance with the state configuration.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: transmitting, by the UE,information regarding at least one of: a UE type associated with the UE;and a service supported by the UE; receiving, by the UE, updatedinformation regarding an updated state configuration, wherein theupdated state configuration is one of the first state configuration andthe second state configuration, and the updated state configuration isdifferent from the state configuration; and communicating, by the UE,with the network device in accordance with the updated stateconfiguration.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first operatingstate is not an ACTIVE state.
 14. The method of claim 11, the methodfurther comprising: selecting, by a network device, the stateconfiguration for the UE from among the plurality of candidate stateconfigurations; and transmitting, by the network device to the UE,information regarding the state configuration.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein the state configuration is the first state configuration,the method further comprising: selecting, by the network device, asecond state configuration for the second UE from among the plurality ofcandidate state configurations; transmitting, by the network device tothe second UE, information regarding the second state configuration;receiving, by the second UE, the information regarding the second stateconfiguration; and communicating, by the second UE, with the networkdevice in accordance with the second state configuration.
 16. The methodof claim 11, wherein the first operating state is an ECO state, thesecond operating state is an ACTIVE state, and the third operating stateis an IDLE state.
 17. An apparatus comprising: a wireless interface; aprocessor operatively coupled to the wireless interface; and a computerreadable storage medium operatively coupled to the processor, thecomputer readable storage medium storing programming for execution bythe processor, the programming comprising instructions to: receive, viathe wireless interface, from a network device, information regarding astate configuration from among a plurality of candidate stateconfigurations, the plurality of candidate state configurationscomprising at least a first state configuration associated with a firstset of predefined operating states which at least includes a firstoperating state and a second operating state, wherein both the firstoperating state and the second operating state support a communicationbetween the network device and an apparatus, and a second stateconfiguration associated with a second set of predefined operatingstates which at least includes the first operating state, wherein thefirst operating state is the only operating state, in the second set ofpredefined operating states, that supports a communication between thenetwork device and an apparatus, wherein at least one of the first setof predefined operating states and the second set of predefinedoperating states further includes a third operating state which does notsupport a communication between the network device and an apparatus, andwherein the state configuration is one of the first state configurationand the second state configuration; and communicate with the networkdevice in accordance with the state configuration.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the programming further comprises instructions to:transmit, via the wireless interface, information regarding at least oneof: a type associated with the apparatus; and a service supported by theapparatus; receive updated information regarding an updated stateconfiguration, wherein the updated state configuration is one of thefirst state configuration and the second state configuration, and theupdated state configuration is different from the state configuration;and communicate with the network device in accordance with the updatedstate configuration.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the firstoperating state is not an ACTIVE state.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the first operating state is an ECO state, the second operatingstate is an ACTIVE state, and the third operating state is an IDLEstate.